Griffin Inn (Hotel) — Hotel in Wealden

11th May 2025

I can’t remember how Mich & I came to hear of the Griffin Inn, but countryside pubs in idyllic settings serving above-average food (with bonus points for Sunday roasts worth leaving the house for) are very much the sort of thing we’re regularly on the look-out for, and when we did our own due diligence those sweeping panoramas across the “Sussex Serengeti” immediately propelled it into the ‘must-try’ category. So, having already left the house, and needing something to redeem our day after perusing the two or three stalls of Preston Park’s first iteration of its new Sunday market in about thirty seconds flat, we made a last-minute reservation enquiry, hopped in the car and hoped it would have been accepted by the time we’d completed the half-hour drive there.

It hadn’t been, due to an error with their system, but the attempt was enough to secure us a table - and luckily, too, as they’d stopped taking food orders from walk-ins. This seemed odd, as aside from a couple of nappers in the curved wooden recliners we more or less had our pick of the tables sparsely situated in the beautiful sprawling outside. There was an obvious choice: a high table for two right on the boundary of the garden, probably ten metres from the nearest table, allowing us to enjoy the verdant vistas almost without feeling like we were at a pub at all.

In a pitiful attempt to save Mich the responsibility of driving home, I ordered a bottle of Coke. This hadn’t been refrigerated, and on such a nice day the solitary ice cube I was granted had melted by the time I’d walked all the way back to our table from the bar, up and down hills, weaving through trees. Luckily, with knowing foresight, Mich had gone for a very passable non-alcoholic sparkling rose, so it was back to the bar for an Amstel. I should have Strava’d it: “Morning Ouse Valley Hike”. Soon afterwards, my anchovies arrived, which I’d ordered off the back of someone at work describing them as the “bacon of the sea” - the latest but not last in a long line of foods and drinks I’d tried to force myself to like (see also: olives, mustard, martinis). The first couple were alright but the rest quickly went the way of the ice cube.

And then we chatted. And waited. And chatted some more, until… the conversation didn’t exactly run out as such, but we have been together for nearly 12 years now, and we were ready for our roasts, beautiful setting notwithstanding, and so I lapsed into silent hope that the delay was a deliberate effort to provide the best possible roasties.

It wasn’t. I had the lamb, which was gorgeous, and under a creamy herb glaze, and Mich had the chicken, which was roast chicken. The less important accoutrements included a celeriac puree and tenderstem broc amidst the usual pleasing glazed carrots and an absurd mound of greens, and so too made a good impression. But a roast - and the whole reason I’m so sceptical about leaving the house for one, and I know I’m far from original in saying this - is only as good as its potatoes. In actual fact they were about as nice as I’ve had at a pub in recent times, but we had four or five each and the best of those wouldn’t have even made it to the serving plate at Nana’s house. The Yorkshire puds, too, weren’t great: dry and cracked.

To be honest, the location made the food almost irrelevant - almost. Anyone that knows me knows my mood can swing wildly based on the quality of my most recent feed, so it’s a big statement to say that it was of secondary importance compared to the views we had, but I’d go back to the Griffin even if it meant slurping melted anchovies through a straw. It’s just a bonus they’ve got a lot more to...

A bit of a long review... My wife and I stayed here on 5 December with two other couples for a pre-Christmas get together.

When we arrived there appeared to be some panic and confusion as to people being checked in, the staff that greeted us didn't seem that experienced. Once we were shown to our rooms, after a couple false starts, we were all pleased. Be warned, they are very compact, all of them, but nicely appointed, comfortable and clean. You do have to plan your movements around the room if there is more than one of you though. Our room had a clunking vent in the shower which was somewhat annoying.

The bar staff are all pleasant and helpful although I'd question their experience in managing a busy period. We'd got there around 5pm and it was quiet so easy for them.

The food is very good though, if somewhat pricey for what you get and little things letting it down. No-one wants huge portions especially if planning to experience the whole menu and my wife is very petite so does not eat a lot but three small scallops, with tomato and greenery for £8.50 is excessive. My duck pate was very tasty but disappointing with burnt brioche toast.

The main course was excellent, although the two steaks were delivered to the wrong people, rare to someone who wanted medium-well and vice versa, that's not a mistake that should happen, especially if you don't like it oozing blood!

The service though was the worst part, especially the waiter who seemed to be in charge. He did not engage with any of us, or any other tables that we could see and was quite abrupt and dismissive. The staff dress code seemed too casual with jeans and shirt, not something you'd really expect when they are portraying their fine dinning. However, the delay between starter and main was absurd, at least an hour and a half, and no explanation or communication. Fortunately, we entertained ourselves and the mains were very good when they did arrive.

The same waiter was there for breakfast, and while I was waiting for my wife and friends to arrive (I needed a coffee!) I had the dubious pleasure of listening to him tell his colleague how he was only going to work New Years day as it was easier, and he'd get paid triple time. Evidently he didn't want to work New Years Eve as he'd not finish until late in the morning.

On ordering and receiving breakfast, three of the six were wrong. We'd only wanted variants of the Fletching cooked breakfast, mine needed to be without mushroom from an allergy, and turned up with one on top. His response was that it was confusing. Surely this is a basic premise of being a waiter; to take an order, relay it to the kitchen, and check it before delivering it to the customer.

I'd question whether he is in the wrong job! He certainly detracted from the overall pleasure and experience we should have had, as his general attitude affected the other staff too.

Overall we had a great night and enjoyable time. the location is stunning, we'd been before for lunch and the views from the garden overlooking Sheffield Park are stunning in the spring, summer and autumn and the food is very good.

Would we stay again? Probably not! Would we go again? Yes, but not eat in the restaurant, maybe the garden or bar area to avoid being disappointed with poor service.

Overall value for money? I've had better for the same...

My Fiance and I came here for a special meal as our last date night before we tie the knot this weekend and unfortunately we were a little disappointed. To be fair it was busy for a Wednesday night and the staff were doing their best to get everyone served but unfortunately after we were seated at our 7.30pm booked table it took 25 minutes for someone to come and take our drinks order. Plenty of waiters walked pass us in this time serving other people and we tried to grab attention but unfortunately we were overlooked. It was only when another concerned diner (bless her) pointed out to one of the staff who had come to take their plates that we hadn't been served that someone finally came. Unfortunately they'd run out of the one beer on tap that my Fiance was excited to have (no-one's fault) so he had something else but my drink came with the wrong mixer and they were too busy to grab their attention to get it changed so I didn't want to make a fuss. We only had those two drinks for our whole meal. Unfortunately our starters were the lamb koftas and pea and watercress soup. For £11.50 we were expecting a lot for the koftas and unfortunately what came were two £2 coin size rounds of lamb kofta with some small triangles of slightly burned pitta. Fine for a starter but hard to justify the price. The soup also tasted as though pea, watercress and water had been blended and then microwaved. It was very watery. There was no seasoning, it hadn't been cooked with any other stock or herbs to bring out the flavour. Again, to be fair, I overheard another diner state that they liked how 'plain' it was so this could be a simple difference in preference of taste. For mains we had steak and the mushroom risotto. Appreciating that the steak was a sirloin cut, for £39.50 it hadn't been cooked in the usual combination of rosemary infused garlic butter or good quality olive oil. It didn't taste like it had much seasoning and the fat hadn't been rendered at all so my partner couldn't eat a lot of it. There was no choice of sauce or any kind of butter for the steak which again seemed at odds with the price. Alike to a review below, the mushroom risotto was okay but quite plain and I think a better quality or more flavourful type of mushroom and infusion of garlic would help. We couldn't justify the price of £19.50. We are big foodies and love quality food but unfortunately this did miss the mark for us for the price. All the staff seemed nice and we really do appreciate that it was a busy night and it is difficult for independent pubs post-pandemic. When it came to paying our £90.70 bill we didn't want to make a fuss as there was little point as we could tell they were still busy. Just hoping to give some feedback and do not wish this to be a malicious...